Great sign idea for shop owners

I really have to apologize for my lack of sharing exciting projects this week. If you are in the New England area, you know that we have been hit with record amounts of snow this January. I shared a few weeks ago the snow Randy and I have had to contend with. You can see that HERE. Since that post, the snow is higher, the roads are icier and the plow has taken our mailbox out. Getting furniture down our dirt road and into our driveway has been a little tough and last on the list. So in the meantime, thanks for taking the time to view my "little projects".....

A few months back a salon owner saw my signs at the flea market I was vending at. She loved them and wanted some for her shop, but the town she worked in had strict guidelines that she couldn't have a sign near the road. Apparently her shop is set back on the road and this would be her only hope of pulling in any business. So, we came up with this idea:

The two signs were attached with a vertical board on the back. The base of the post is stuck into the planter. The planter is on a cart that wheels. Each morning and night, she pushes the planter to and from her shop out to the street. This is her way of getting around the "permanent fixture" she is not allowed to have.

My GIVEAWAY ends tonight at midnight....Last chance to enter.....



Linking to THESE fabulous parties...

4th recycled project from wardrobe

You can read about the wardrobe I am using for recycling pieces and project #1 HERE

Project #2

Project #3

And for project #4 I used the top board that held the wardrobe stable.

Yet again, a sign it is...... I found some great cardboard letters at TJ Maxx used for scrap booking. They were only $1.99 and will be used for hundreds of future projects. The board was long, so I needed a long word. I chose Martha's Vineyard. I lined them up first to make sure they'd fit.

I painted it a funky green. Next I painted the letters on....Once dry, I distressed the sign....It's fun whimsical, and unique.......

Only two days left to enter my Etsy seller #2 GIVEAWAY.



I'll be linking to these PARTIES

My favorite art~sentiment and memories

I LOVE to decorate my home with unique one of a kind furniture and art. The majority is found at the thrift store and turned into treasures. But, my most favorite items are those that have a memory or sentimental value.

Unfortunately my grandparents both passed away with in the last 2 1/2 years. I could go on and on about them, but will save that for another day...It's to late for me to have an emotional night.

Robert and Barbara Ruggles...the most amazing grandparents ever. My grandmother a knock out and my grandfather as handsome as can be.

Shortly after my grandfathers passing, my grandmother gave me the best gift I have ever received. It was a plate that hung in my Grandfather's office. He was a builder and a very happey client had this made for him in 1960. It is a new house with a very happy family. Notice the detail in the photo. In addition, a personal note was written on the back.

My second favorite piece of sentimental art I own was sketched by my Aunt in 1978. It is a picture of the camp originally owned by my Great Grandparents and my grandparents after that. We spent many summers there and the memories are unforgettable. Actually the picture of my grandmother standing on the dock above was taken at this very camp on Copeland Pond. This picture hung at camp up until about 8 years back. After that it hung in my Grandmother's bedroom until the day she died. My aunt knew how much I loved this, therefore gave it to me.

Then, there was an awesome sign that hung in my grandparents finished basement. It was a sign painted for the apple orchards that my great parents owned. In the 70's or 80's my great uncle restored it and hung it in a museum he had created at Copeland Pond. He added a hanging sign to the bottom telling the story of the orchards. This hung in the museum up until his passing....

"About 1915 Archie and Mabel Tupper planted an apple orchard of 500 young trees on this land which he had purchased from his mother. In the 1930's a very sever winter killed 80% of the just maturing trees and the orchard was abandoned. A handful of surviving trees can still be seen on the property. Following this, they concentrated on building and renting camps, boats, and picnic tables on Copeland Pond."

And lastly, this final piece of art has no sentimental value but I wanted to throw it in the mix because I just simply love it. I bought it at a thrift store years ago for $6. The detail is exquisite.

Thanks for taking the time to read about two very special people who will always be in my heart and memories....

Tomorrow is the last day to enter my Etsy seller giveaway....Click HERE to enter. Join me again next Tuesday when I introduce you to another Etsy seller with a giveaway you will love!

Take care,
Lisa

Pottery Barn copied me, so I copied them right back!

Remember a few weeks ago when I told you Pottery Barn copied me? LOL!! Well, I decided tit for tat and I was going to use one of their ideas. Well at least part of one of their ideas.

I found a great sign in their catalog. I went online so I could download and share a photo with you, but they cut it out on the online photo. This made me realize the sign isn't even for sale. It is just a piece in a homeowners home. So the pictures you are getting aren't the greatest because I literally snapped the photos right out of the catalog.

It says: "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come"

I was in love with the style and the saying.

Unfortunately I didn't have wood laying around the house like that. I like to use what I have, so I decided to improvise a bit. Yesterday I shared the story about the VINTAGE CABINET that I can't stand. I have decided to use its parts for different projects. For this sign project I decided to use the entire top of the cabinet.

My stencils were larger therefore I had to change the arrangement of the words. In addition I also had to change a few words to fit. I changed "and" to "&" and "singing" to "song".

Here it is pre-distressed and pre-stained. Looks ok, but still a little to perfect.

I took my palm sander out to rough the lettering up a bit. I brushed on a coat of natural Min Wax to draw out the grain in the wood. It is a large piece of wall art measuring 20"x44". Here is the finished product:

I must say I am really pleased with the outcome. I was looking for large unique wall art, and this just kind of fell into my lap...

UPDATE....2 days later.  I have just been informed Birdie at These Moments of Mine that this sign in the Pottery Barn catalog actually comes from SUGARBOODESIGNS. You can see it on their homepage their. I can't find the prices because you have to sign in as a wholesaler, but Birdie is telling me it is $280. Just crazy! I am so liking my $0 price tag better.

Have a great upcoming weekend....

Take care,
Lisa

Eclectic chic master bedroom makeover.....

It was long over do, but the makeover of my bedroom was completed. It was gutted from ceiling to floor. A new heating system was put in, therefore all the ducts had to be boxed in. Once this and the electrical were done, the sheet rock was put up. Then the ceiling, crown molding, doors, flooring, baseboard, and of course the painting....I'm sure I left something out seeing that it seemed never ending, but I'm sure you get the idea.

Then on to the fun part...THE DECORATING!!! I had a duvet I purchased from Anthropologie years ago. I was set on using this as my inspiration piece. Hence, in order to match, the wall had to be painted black. "French Beret" from Sherwin Williams to be exact. I still feel like there is more to be done like accessories, a fireplace screen, and an area rug, but I have a good palette started.

One of the walls has a fireplace which as I said above, I still have to get a screen for. In the meantime, I have placed some accessories in it. The mantle I showed the re-do for can be viewed in detail HERE.

At a tag sale years ago I found this vintage radiator for $10. It is rusted to perfection. Green and blue stones embellish the front. I am in love with this piece. I am still looking for the perfect decor to go on top of it.

I painted my version of subway art on an old table top. "Dream, Retreat, sleep, Relax".

In front of the window I placed an old table with two ice cream parlor chairs I painted copper. The base of the table is an amazing heavy piece of iron. The top was simply a piece of plywood so I covered it with vintage ceiling tin and painted it. Over time it has rusted on its own giving it the perfect patina.

In front of one of the windows I have what was my Grandmother's iron vanity chair that she sat in every morning and night. In front of it is an antique ottoman that I reupholstered with black suede fabric. I outlined it with a gorgeous lace rosette trim. I purchased it from Etsy from a great shop called Frog Feathers . The curtains are a white gauze I purchased from Ikea. They were only $4.99 a pair. I embellished each knot with an organza flower I purchased from Etsy. The shop is Snuggle Bunny Too They were only $10 for all 4 and that included the shipping.

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I purchased a great print from Etsy from the shop Black Baroque. It was only $10. I framed it with a frame I already had laying around. You can't beat the price or the uniqueness of it. I hung it on the brick pillar I painted white and distressed.

As I said above, the duvet was purchased from Anthropologie. The white pillow cases are vintage lace ($1 each tag sale purchase), and the black shams are from Anthroplogie. The silver ruffled pillows are from TJ Maxx. I made the bench at the foot of the bed. I posted the "how to" HERE.

The ceilings are bead board and crown molding surrounds them.

Take care,

Lisa

The parties I link to can be viewed HERE